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Once upon a time in the middle of winter； when the flakes of
snow were falling like feathers from the sky； a queen sat at
a window sewing； and the frame of the window was made of black
ebony。 And whilst she was sewing and looking out of the window
at the snow； she pricked her finger with the needle； and three
drops of blood fell upon the snow。 And the red looked pretty
upon the white snow； and she thought to herself； would that I had
a child as white as snow； as red as blood； and as black as the
wood of the window…frame。
Soon after that she had a little daughter； who was as white as
snow； and as red as blood； and her hair was as black as ebony；
and she was therefore called little snow…white。 And when the
child was born； the queen died。
After a year had passed the king took to himself another wife。
She was a beautiful woman； but proud and haughty； and she could
not bear that anyone else chould surpass her in beauty。 She
had a wonderful looking…glass； and when she stood in front of it
and looked at herself in it； and said；
looking…glass； looking…glass； on the wall；
who in this land is the fairest of all。
The looking…glass answered；
thou； o queen； art the fairest of all。
Then she was satisfied； for she knew that the looking…glass spoke
the truth。
But snow…white was growing up； and grew more and more beautiful；
and when she was seven years old she was as beautiful as the day；
and more beautiful than the queen herself。 And once when the
queen asked her looking…glass；
looking…glass； looking…glass； on the wall；
who in this land is the fairest of all。
It answered；
thou art fairer than all who are here； lady queen。
But more beautiful still is snow…white； as I ween。
Then the queen was shocked； and turned yellow and green with
envy。 From that hour； whenever she looked at snow…white； her
heart heaved in her breast； she hated the girl so much。
And envy and pride grew higher and higher in her heart like a
weed； so that she had no peace day or night。 She called a
huntsman； and said； take the child away into the forest。 I will
no longer have her in my sight。 Kill her； and bring me back her
lung and liver as a token。 The huntsman obeyed； and took her away
but when he had drawn his knife； and was about to pierce
snow…white's innocent heart； she began to weep； and said； ah dear
huntsman； leave me my life。 I will run away into the wild forest；
and never come home again。
And as she was so beautiful the huntsman had pity on her and
said； run away； then； you poor child。 The wild beasts will soon
have devoured you； thought he； and yet it seemed as if a stone had
been rolled from his heart since it was no longer needful for
him to kill her。 And as a young bear just then came running by
he stabbed it； and cut out its lung and liver and took them to the
queen as proof that the child was dead。 The cook had to salt them；
and the wicked queen ate them； and thought she had eaten the lung
and liver of snow…white。
But now the poor child was all alone in the great forest； and so
terrified that she looked at all the leaves on the trees； and did
not know what to do。 Then she began to run； and ran over sharp
stones and through thorns； and the wild beasts ran past her； but
did her no harm。
She ran as long as her feet would go until it was almost evening；
then she saw a little cottage and went into it to rest herself。
Everything in the cottage was small； but neater and cleaner than
can be told。 There was a table on which was a white cover； and
seven little plates； and on each plate a little spoon； moreover；
there were seven little knives and forks； and seven little mugs。
Against the wall stood seven little beds side by side； and
covered with snow…white counterpanes。
Little snow…white was so hungry and thirsty that she ate some
vegetables and bread from each plate and drank a drop of wine
out of each mug； for she did not wish to take all from one only。
Then； as she was so tired； she laid herself down on one of the
little beds； but none of them suited her； one was too long；
another too short； but at last she found that the seventh one was
right； and so she remained in it； said a prayer and went to
sleep。
When it was quite dark the owners of the cottage came back。
They were seven dwarfs who dug and delved in the mountains for
ore。 They lit their seven candles； and as it was now light within
the cottage they saw that someone had been there； for everything
was not in the same order in which they had left it。
The first said； who has been sitting on my chair。
The second； who has been eating off my plate。
The third； who has been taking some of my bread。
The fourth； who has been eating my vegetables。
The fifth； who has been using my fork。
The sixth； who has been cutting with my knife。
The seventh； who has been drinking out of my mug。
Then the first looked round and saw that there was a little
hollow on his bed； and he said； who has been getting into my
bed。 The others came up and each called out； somebody has been
lying in my bed too。 But the seventh when he looked at his bed
saw little snow…white； who was lying asleep therein。 And he
called the others； who came running up； and they cried out with
astonishment； and brought their seven little candles and let the
light fall on little snow…white。 Oh； heavens； oh； heavens； cried
they； what a lovely child。 And they were so glad that they did
not wake her up； but let her sleep on in the bed。 And the
seventh dwarf slept with his companions； one hour with each； and
so passed the night。
When it was morning little snow…white awoke； and was frightened
when she saw the seven dwarfs。 But they were friendly and asked
her what her name was。 My name is snow…white； she answered。
How have you come to our house； said the dwarfs。 Then she told
them that her step…mother had wished to have her killed； but
that the huntsman had spared her life； and that she had run for
the whole day； until at last she had found their dwelling。
The dwarfs said； if you will take care of our house； cook； make
the beds； wash； sew and knit； and if you will keep everything neat
and clean you can stay with us and you shall want for nothing。
Yes； said snow…white； with all my heart。 And she stayed with
them。 She kept the house in order for them。 In the mornings
they went to the mountains and looked for copper and gold； in the
evenings they came back； and then their supper had to be ready。
The girl was alone the whole day； so the good dwarfs warned her
and said； beware of your step…mother； she will soon know that you
are here； be sure to let no one come in。
But the queen； believing that she had eaten snow…white's lung and
liver； could not but think that she was again the first and most
beautiful of all； and she went to her looking…glass and said；
looking…glass； looking…glass； on the wall；
who in this land is the fairest of all。
And the glass answered；
oh； queen； thou art fairest of all I see；
but over the hills； where the seven dwarfs dwell；
snow…white is still alive and well；
and none is so fair as she。
Then she was astounded； for she knew that the looking…glass
never spoke falsely； and she knew that the huntsman had betrayed
her； and that little snow…white was still alive。
And so she thought and thought again how she might kill her；
for so long as she was not the fairest in the whole land； envy let
her have no rest。 And when she had at last thought of something
to do； she painted her face； and dressed herself like an old
pedlar…woman； and no one could have known her。 In this disguise
she went over the seven mountains to the seven dwarfs； and
knocked at the door and cried； pretty things to sell； very cheap；
very cheap。 Little snow…white looked out of the window and called
out； good…day my good woman； what have you to sell。 Good things；
pretty things； she answered； stay…laces of all colors； and she
pulled out one which was woven of bright…colored silk。 I may let
the worthy old woman in； thought snow…white； and she unbolted the
door and bought the pretty laces。 Child； said the old woman；
what a fright you look； come； I will lace you properly for once。
Snow…white had no suspicion； but stood before her； and let herself
be laced with the new laces。 But the old woman laced so quickly
and so tightly that snow…white lost her breath and fell down as
if dead。 Now I am the most beautiful； said the queen to herself；
and ran away。
Not long afterwards； in the evening； the seven dwarfs came home；
but how shocked they were when they saw their dear little snow…white
lying on the ground； and that she neither stirred nor
moved； and seemed to be dead。 They lifted her up； and； as they
saw that she was laced too tightly； they cut the laces； then she
began to breathe a little； and after a while came to life again。
When the dwarfs heard what had happened they said； the old
pedlar…woman was no one
else than the wicked queen； take care and let no one come in
when we are not with you。
But the wicked woman when she had reached home went in front
of the glass and asked；
looking…glass； looking…glass； on the wall；
who in this land is the fairest of all。
And it answered as before；
oh； queen； thou art faires